Ferne McCann reveals 'food is better than sex' with her fiancé Lorri Haines

After stepping away from reality TV and ending her long-running ITVBe series last year, Ferne McCann is now dedicating her time to helping others. Following her rollercoaster years on The Only Way Is Essex, Ferne reveals that she has a completely different outlook on life today, with the pivotal moment being her departure from her own show.

"It was a tough decision. A year later I'm still missing it, but I still stand by it," she tells OK!. In high spirits and at ease, she's eager to discuss her new ventures, which include the wellness podcast Every Cloud and cooking app Food With Ferne. She also discloses why, at present, her sex life is taking a bit of a back seat.

The reality star has undergone a transformation. Ferne joined TOWIE in 2013, and quickly became a household name due to her larger-than-life personality and fiery on-screen confrontations.

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The 35-year-old then transitioned to her own show, FirstTime Mum, which ran for 13 series until she decided to leave last year. She's since traded filming her reality show for whipping up culinary delights and enjoying a quieter, more low-key life with her family – seven-year-old daughter Sunday, two-year-old daughter Finty and fiancé Lorri Haines, 34.

Recognising that her love for food dominates her life these days, Ferne has just launched a new cooking app brimming with tasty recipes and top tips to create nutritious meals for everyone.

"It's bouji on a budget. Food has always been my love language, but now it's my number one passion, and my greatest pleasure. That's how I describe it."

So, what does Lorri, a businessman, think of her obsession? Ferne blushes as she confesses that their physical relationship has taken a back seat recently. Is food better than sex?

"I think absolutely it is," she declares. "It ticks all the boxes. I've had some meals that have been orgasmic. I'm a vocal eater. I'm like, 'Hmmmm.' It's a gift that keeps giving.

"I love hosting. Our house is a hub. I go big and I love having all my friends round, creating memories with delicious feasts. Everything is about food, it's my favourite topic of conversation. Now to be able to do it as a career and share it with everyone is very exciting."

She reassures, "Don't worry, I think Lorri is okay. I'm not depriving him (of sex)! But yeah, it is what it is. Isn't it the same for most couples with young children? As you get older, you have different priorities, especially when you have children. We've gone through our honeymoon period. Of course we do date nights. But the last one, by the time I got home, my head had to hit the pillow because I had an early flight to Budapest the next morning, so there was no Sexy Time.

"We do have to schedule time and prioritise intimacy. I really do fancy him, but it's a different kind of love as you evolve and have children. But I don't use any contraception, I just track my menstrual cycle and there are only a few days that we can do it. Poor Lorri. The green [non fertile] days are few and far between."

She confessed her penchant for nudity at home, saying, "I am a very naked person. I do walk about not dressed in anything. I've always been that way. He probably does want sex more. But what man doesn't?" she adds with a cheeky smile.

The pair got engaged in France in 2022, a mere seven months after they first met, leading many to wonder if wedding bells are on the horizon after three years?

"We still have no plans to get married. We're going to have the world's longest engagement," Ferne reveals.

Reflecting on their early relationship, she shares, "When we met, we both already had children and that was such a bond. We were coming from similar situations. [Lorri has a son Noah from a previous relationship, the same age as Sunday]. He's very wise and intelligent. I've learnt so much from him."

Now in her mid-30s, Ferne is unsure about expanding her family further. "I really don't know. At the moment, I think I'm done," she admits.

"I've got my two girlies. But that could change next week. And no, I'm not bothered about having a boy. I just see myself as a girl mum. It's an honour raising girls. I am so connected to them. Everything I do is for them. When Sunday came into my life, she gave me purpose at a time when I really needed it."

Her eldest was one of the reasons she decided to stop her TV show. "I wanted to protect Sunday's privacy, but the madness of it is that now she's begging me for a YouTube channel," she laughs, rolling her eyes.

"I'm thinking, 'How has this happened?' She's always been in the limelight, but I wanted her to focus on school [she is eight in November] and other things.

"But she's on my Instagram doing cooking tutorials and people keep telling me, 'Sunday's a star in the making.' I love her newfound confidence. She's really coming into her own."

Ferne appears delighted. Being a mum clearly agrees with her and we're having our chat on what she describes as "Finty Wednesday".

She reveals, "It's our mum and daughter day. Our house is always busy and fun and there's always a million things going on with the launch of my podcast and food app.

"Lorri runs two start-ups and is involved in lots of other things. He's quite entrepreneurial. I always like having someone here. I would definitely consider myself an extrovert. I get recharged from having other people around me. Do I like being on my own? No. That's why I got a dog. Because you're never on your own then."

Following well-documented struggles with her mental health, Ferne now feels more at peace and centred, and she's committed to utilising her celebrity status for positive change.

Her latest podcast Every Cloud centres on mental wellbeing, trauma and conquering life's obstacles.

Despite downplaying her looks, claiming she appears dishevelled after a morning tending to her children, Ferne remains absolutely gorgeous as she chats enthusiastically from her stunning Essex residence.

To maintain her figure, she exercises three times weekly and takes daily strolls with the family's adorable cockapoo Clemmie.

Still nursing, she casually mentions having no immediate intentions to cease, though she bemoans how her bust has transformed since welcoming her daughters.

"I didn't plan to breastfeed this long. I've been on a real rollercoaster, love/hate affair with my boobs. One minute I'm feeling confident, thinking they serve a wonderful purpose, feeding my child – one of my biggest achievements and journeys. Then the next minute I'm looking at them and not feeling sexy at all.

"They do completely change after breastfeeding. I toyed with the idea of a boob job – and even booked a consultation on a 'down day' – but I never went through with it.

"Sometimes, I have those moments when I look in the mirror and I think ageing is really taking its toll. If I lean down to pick something up, and I haven't got a bra on, my boobs are giving spaniels ears! But sometimes they take a couple of years to perk back up after breastfeeding, so I've still got hope."

Her modest remarks can't mask the reality that she looks fantastic. Life is brilliant.

However, it wasn't always plain sailing for her, and for numerous years, beneath the glittering exterior, Ferne admits she was profoundly miserable with the strains of reality stardom and public scrutiny – confessing she frequently wept following TOWIE filming sessions and felt swamped by the expectations.

She remembers that her stint on the programme aligned with Twitter's emergence, now X, making online abuse and criticism inescapable.

Indeed, this year Ferne disclosed she experienced suicidal thoughts during her depression's bleakest moments.

She maintains, "I don't have any regrets, honestly. I look back and that show was a springboard and the beginning of my whole career, and I've had some amazing opportunities since but, no, I'd never go back.

"It was rife with arguments and confrontations and it definitely had an impact on my mental health and that's when I started to explore alternative therapies and meditation.

"I've had seven years of therapy now and it's the best thing I've ever done," she says.

"I'm so different in the way I approach and handle tough times, good times. I want to use my platform and new projects and share what I've been through and hopefully help others. Emotional breakthroughs can be transformative."

A pivotal moment in Ferne's career came when she appeared on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in 2015, where she revealed her genuine, gentler nature to viewers. Courageously taking on every challenge, she forged friendships with her co-stars and secured third place.

"That was a real turning point for me," she reflects. "I love I'm A Celeb so I couldn't believe I was on it. I was a last-minute replacement, but I wanted to show up authentically and be the real me."

It was the series that saw fellow reality television personality Vicky Pattison crowned Queen of the Jungle, and the duo have remained close friends. Ferne attended Vicky's wedding last year and is now cheering on her mate to triumph on Strictly Come Dancing this year.

She says, "It's very exciting to know someone on it because we are massive Strictly fans in our household. Vicky has the potential to win."

Despite stepping away from her documentary series last year, Ferne wouldn't dismiss further reality television opportunities in the future. Nevertheless, her second week departure from Dancing On Ice earlier this year left her deeply disappointed.

"I was emotionally devastated for a week and haven't put my ice skates on since," she admits. Yet ultimately, it's her aspiration to feature on Strictly. "I'd love that – all the glitz and glam," she sighs.

"And hopefully I'd do better than I did on Dancing On Ice. "I can't ever see myself turning my back on TV," she adds with a smile.